Alumni Community
We're so glad you're here! By joining the NatureBridge Alumni Community, you're becoming part of a nationwide network of students, families, educators, and supporters who share a passion for nature, science, and lifelong learning. As a member, you'll receive invitations to alumni events, opportunities to reconnect with NatureBridge educators and fellow alumni, share your story, hear inspiring stories from across our community, and exclusive NatureBridge alumni benefits.
Alumni Benefits
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) #
We’re excited to share a special opportunity from our friends at NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School), the global leader in outdoor education. As a NatureBridge alum, your student is eligible for $500 off any Summer 2026 NOLS expedition that is 10 days or longer.* Apply now with coupon code NYA88J at checkout.
Students can build on their time at NatureBridge by elevating their leadership and wilderness skills with NOLS’ immersive, real-world learning experiences that challenge young people to step outside their comfort zone and develop the confidence to lead. Whether you’re seeking personal growth, college preparation, or the adventure of a lifetime, NOLS will help you unlock your full potential and create the kind of leader you want to be. Join NOLS on a rafting, backpacking, or sea kayaking expedition or at any of the many other magnificent places in between!
We’ve partnered with Blog Posts
Why Access Matters: NatureBridge Alum Alicia Bales Reflects on the Power of Outdoor Education
Alicia Bales, current Director of the Redwood Chapter of the Sierra Club, didn’t grow up seeing herself as an outdoorsy person. Raised in Sacramento, CA, she thought of herself as a “city kid” who had spent little time in nature—until a school trip to NatureBridge Yosemite changed everything.
From the Headlands to Hawai‘i: Justin Umholtz’s Journey of Environmental Stewardship
For Justin Umholtz, environmental education is about more than teaching science. It builds belonging, invites students into stewardship, and helps them see how they fit into something larger. From the Marin Headlands as a student to Hawai‘i as an educator, his journey reflects the lasting power of experiencing the wonder of wild places.
The Long Ripple: How One Week in Yosemite Shaped a Lifetime of Leadership
For Andree Blanchier, the memories of Yosemite aren't just mental snapshots of granite peaks and waterfalls; they are the foundational layers of a life dedicated to education and making an impact in her community. Now the Executive Director of the Shasta College Foundation, Andree looks back at her time as a McConnell Scholar in the late 1980’s at NatureBridge (then Yosemite Institute) as the moment the world grew larger than her high school hallways.
2025 Olympic Student of the Year: Jackson Blocker
Each year, NatureBridge honors a student who has demonstrated leadership, growth and a commitment to protecting our natural world as a result of their participation in an environmental science program at our Olympic National Park campus. This year’s honoree will be recognized and will speak at the Evening on the Lake, which will be held on Friday, November 7 in Seattle. We are thrilled to announce our 2025 Olympic Student of the Year: ninth grader Jackson Blocker.
“This Trip Changed My Entire Life”: Rebecca Welch and the Transformative Power of Outdoor Learning
When high schooler Rebecca Welch boarded a bus at 5 a.m. in a Safeway parking lot, she had no idea that she was about to embark on a journey that would forever transform her worldview, career path, and relationship with the outdoors. A quiet tenth grader from Burney, CA, Rebecca had never gone hiking, never camped, and rarely traveled outside her small rural community. But thanks to a teacher’s encouragement and a winning essay, she found herself en route to Yosemite National Park to take part in a NatureBridge program. Now a teacher herself, Rebecca credits the NatureBridge trip during her sophomore year with unlocking a whole new path for her future.
"Unless Someone Like You Cares": How NatureBridge and "The Lorax" Inspired Terri Carta's Career in Conservation
Terri Carta has spent most of her life championing the importance of preserving natural spaces. Growing up in Southern California, Terri avidly explored parks and outdoor spaces with her family, but it wasn’t until high school that she learned what it means to advocate on their behalf. Her conservation journey began not with a specific career goal, but with a class trip to NatureBridge (formerly Yosemite Institute) that combined adventure, discovery, and the power of Dr. Seuss’ book "The Lorax."